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to empty out and to hollow out

I was reading an article about Halloween traditions and I read these sentences where a I came across the verb To hollow out:

A jack-o-lantern is a hollowed out pumpkin with a candle burning
inside it.How did the pumpkin become associated with Halloween?
The tradition of hollowing out large turnips and placing lights inside
began with the Irish.

Now my question is this: is To empty out used with the same meaning? If it isn't what's the difference between them?
Can't we associate "empty" with a pumpkin?

Re: to empty out and to hollow out

Originally Posted by dilodi83

I was reading an article about Halloween traditions and I read these sentences where a I came across the verb To hollow out:

A jack-o-lantern is a hollowed out pumpkin with a candle burning
inside it.How did the pumpkin become associated with Halloween?
The tradition of hollowing out large turnips and placing lights inside
began with the Irish.

Now my question is this: is To empty out used with the same meaning? If it isn't what's the difference between them?
Can't we associate "empty" with a pumpkin?

To hollow out is to create an open space where there was material of some sort. To empty out is to move things away, as in to empty out a house. "I hollowed out a pathway in the messy house" is not the same as "I emptied the messy house". One could say, "I emptied the pumpkin to create a jack-o-lantern", and it should be understandable by most people.